Soccer Star Confronts LeBron James Over His Political Activism

Cortney O'Brien | March 01, 2021 11:00 AM

According to soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, we shouldn't know what LeBron James thinks about social issues in the U.S. In a recent interview with Discovery Plus, Ibrahimovic, who plays for AC Milan, complimented James as an athlete, but wished that he'd stay in his lane. In recent months James has been outspoken about the Black Lives Matter movement, and created the "More Than a Vote" initiative, which highlights improving voter turnout in Black communities.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic uppskattar basketspelaren Lebron James men tycker inte att han ska lägga sig i politiken: "Lebron är fenomenal på det han gör, men jag gillar inte när folk med status lägger sig i politik"

Lång intervju med Zlatan Ibrahimovic: https://t.co/oXm5gjmhKv pic.twitter.com/J3L82GWLD6
— discovery+ sport ???? (@dplus_sportSE) February 25, 2021

"I don't like when people, when they have some kind of status and they do politics at the same time...I mean, do what you're good at," Ibrahimovic said. "Do the category you do. I play football because I'm the best in playing football. I don't do politics. If I would be a political - politician, I would do politics. That is the first mistake people do when they become famous and becoming a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you're best at. Because it doesn't look good."

James responded to Ibrahimovic over the weekend, giving him some bad news.

LeBron's response to Zlatan's criticism of his activism. pic.twitter.com/EZBdLY6KDP
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) February 27, 2021

"I will never shut up about things that's wrong," James said in a press conference. "I preach about my people and I preach about inequality, social injustice, racism, voter suppression - things that go on in our community."

James has also received criticism for his effort to get the NBA to punish Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey for his public support of the people of Hong Kong following aggressive action by China. According to James, Morey "wasn't educated" on the subject before he tweeted, and as a result could have caused some folks either physical or psychological damage.